The Gumpster Syndrome

Just what is the "Gumpster Syndrome" you ask? It is when an old fart loses his spouse to death, and then goes kinda nutty. You have to be at least 65 years old, and have nothing to offer someone. You have to be really good at lying. As soon as their wife is laid to rest, the vulture women come calling. Never mind the older, more mature woman, it is the younger single mother kind, who has at least three or more teenagers. Of course they don't receive any kind of child support, and they own nothing, ya know, the kind that rents. But if you are lucky, they might own a beat up van with worn out tires. They are more than happy to take over where the mother left off. They say that they don't want anything that belongs to the first wife, but won't let the man give anything of value to the kids. That territory is theirs , because they have their hook in now, and marriage is just days away. Never mind that the man collects pensions and social security, that is better than nothing. The best thing is that these men can marry in the temple more than once, so temple wedding it is! When the wedding day comes, the couple cannot figure out why everyone is crying, and really doesn't' want to be there. I didn't bother to show up. Could it be that the loved one hasn't been in the ground long enough? Or could it be that the loved one was really loved, and now missed a lot? Don't bother giving gifts, they have it all. The new wife is younger than your own daughter and is anxious to be "grandma " to the grand kids. The new groom gets to look forward to giving away his new step children at their weddings, and maybe even get to send a few on a mission. Life is great. The family is now fractured beyond belief, and no one comes to the family gatherings anymore. Every one does their own thing and hopes someday someone will come to their senses. But the new wife is happy. She gets to serve dinner on the dead wife's china, gets the sewing machine, and makes sure nothing material leaves the house. The "old family" is no longer welcome in the new home. the love nest. It never gets better..........

This has happened twice in our family. Two people that I really love are suffering right now. Judy doesn't even have a headstone on her grave.........

EASTER

Joel flew out this morning, to help his sick Mom who is in the Eisenhower Hospital in Palm Springs, CA. She is hoping to come home to Provo later in the week. She has congestive heart failure and is going down hill fast. I have been coughing up a storm for a few days now. I thought that I better get to the doctor, as our insurance ends at the end of this month, due to the layoff.

Diagnosis: pneumonia of all things! I don't have time for this! I must admit I really don't feel too good right now. It really hurts to cough...... Maybe I will get lucky and loose some more weight. I lost ten pounds with my hand surgery. It was really hard to get out of bed (we have a bed that you almost need to pole vault to get on it.) I didn't have the strength to go to the fridge, plus there was not COKE in the house, and no one in the family would bring me any. One day I did beg my sweet friend Kathi to bring me some. Did it ever taste good! Illness or stress is a great diet.

I missed out on all of the Easter fun yesterday @Jenny's house. I laid in her bed coughing. We did have an egg hunt, and a really good ham dinner, which didn't taste that good to me since I was not feeling well. Anyway here are some pictures:

By the way: Where did that blond headed kid come from? (Olivia)

George Bush's WAR

It's the five year anniversary of the start of this helpless war, and as a nation, the death toll is almost to 4000,00 lives. Dick Cheney was interviewed on tv, and was told about 65 % of the nation no longer supports the war. His reply: "SO". So? How far removed is that? What does he care. Soon he will be fly fishing all summer in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. That is how he spend last summer......

You Utah Republicans: if you vote for McCain, you are voting for a never ending war, and more of the same as now. McCain is nothing more than a clone of George.
I Know. the only good Mormon is a Republican Mormon, or so I was told...

Gas for my diesel Jetta is now close to $4.00 a gallon. I thought it was bad when it went to $3.00. Do you think the present administration cares about that? I don't think so.

Remember the fallen soldiers when you vote in November.

Picture is the flags flying at the American Fork Cemetery for the funeral for Nathan Barnes, who died serving his country.

March updates

Well, the month got off to a great start when Joel was laid off from his job at XanGo. About 55 others were let go too. We got rest of the month's pay, plus severance. It will be OK--Joel always lands on his feet. He and his friend are going to open up a small car lot somewhere........

I got the release from my hand doctor this month. I can resume my normal activities' whatever that is! That means I pick Jayda up from school, watch the noon news, surf the internet for food recipes, take an afternoon nap, let the dog out, talk on the phone, check my email, and then maybe fix dinner.

My dad, Donald Rasmussen, found out that he has cancer of the lower jaw. He underwent 9 1/2 hours of surgery on Friday, March 7th. The doctor removed his lower jaw and took out some lymph nodes. They could not do any more surgery, such as reconstruct his jaw, because his cardiac doctor would not OK him to be in surgery longer than 8 hours. We pray for him everyday and hope that he recovers soon. Our family went to St. George this past weekend (13th to 15th) to see him. He is swollen, and will never be able to chew again, as his jaw is forever gone. We wish him all the luck in the world, and I know he will be up and going soon.


Today is St. Patty's Day--remember: KISS ME, I'M IRISH.

More Family/Funeral Pictures

Sharon and Randee----related in marriage--some people think we are sisters.
Carrie, Joel , Jenny with Becky
Becky and granddaughter Carrie
Becky and Brice Cornaby

Randee and David Murphy

Glen, Audrey and Dave

Murphy siblings:

Joel, Phil. Gayle, Dave and Robert with Mom

Becky's grandchildren:

Matt, Carrie and Alan

Ashel Robison with my girls, Natalie, Jenny and the back of Ashleigh

Growing like a weed

Brady is growing up so fast, he looks different every time I see him.

Brady's Blessing

Miriam and Mitch laughing it up.....again.

Olivia, BRADY and JenBrady was blessed on Sunday, March 1, 2008. It was a wonderful day, and most of our family was there. There was food galore, and lots of fun and laughter. I didn't take very many pictures, as I was too busy talking and watching Mitch and Miriam laugh their guts out. Something funny happened at church and I never did get all of the story, but I guess it was a good one.

The girls with grandpa Andy

The Road Trip

We had an adventure in February. Some of us in our family went on a "hurried trip" to Palm Springs and Long Beach California for the funeral of our beloved Uncle Garland Sutton. We went in Jenny's van, with the following: Joel, Sharon, Jenny, Jayda, Randy, Ashleigh and baby Brady. We stopped in St. George. on Friday night, and stayed in motels and some of us stayed with my Dad and Martha. We got up the next day and went to Palm Springs for the weekend. Natalie got a buddy pass and flew into Palm Springs on Friday night--since we all could not fit in the van....... We arrived to great weather, but we brought a lot of confusion with us--to many people for a starter. Randy planned on flying out on Sunday so he could get to work on Monday. Randy could not get a flight out of Palm Springs at all. So he decided to try to fly out of Long Beach on Monday. The caravan of cars left early Monday morning for the funeral. Randy could not get out of the Long Beach airport either. With a buddy pass--you fly "stand by". So Randy went to the funeral and met some more of our interesting family.

The funeral was very nice, and Aunt Becky was really sad. Her and Garland had been living together at the local care center. It was a long day for her, and Grandma Loneta came to the funeral also, and it was a long day for her, as both her and Becky are in wheel chairs, and their health if questionable.

Family came from all over, and Garland had a good send off. We will really miss him, as he was always there for us, and came to all of our family celebrations--all the way from California for weddings, funerals, more weddings and more funerals. They are the best.

By the time Monday night rolled around, everyone was exhausted. Natalie, Jenny and Randy were dropped off at the airport to fly home. Ashleigh started crying, she wanted to go home too, but were driving the van home. Natalie and Jayda were crying and Joel had asthma and was coughing his head off. I read a really good novel about Marilyn Monroe the whole trip and just sort of ignored it all. I was still recovering from my hand surgery, so I was kind of miserable at times also. Dave referred to the trip as a FIASCO, and he was glad to see us leave. Here are some of the pictures from that trip.